Disaster Management

DR.VIKRAM GUPTA PG Student(PSM),Patiala

Disaster
A Disaster can be defined as any occurrence that causes damage, ecological disruption, loss of human life or deterioration of health & health services on a scale sufficient to warrant an extraordinary response from outside the effected community or area.

Hazard
A Hazard can be defined as any phenomenon that has the potential to cause disruption or damage to people & environment

 Emergencies & disasters affect health & wellbeing of the people Large numbers of people are displaced, killed or injured or subjected to greater RISK OF EPIDEMICS. Disasters cause great harm to the existing infrastructure & threaten the future of sustainable development.

DISASTER IN INDIA
India has been traditionally vulnerable to natural disasters on account of its unique geo-climatic conditions. Floods, droughts, cyclones, earthquakes and landslides have been a recurrent phenomena. About 60% of the landmass is prone to earthquakes of various intensities; over 40 million hectares is prone to floods; about 8% of the total area is prone to cyclones and 68% of the area is susceptible to drought. In the decade 1990-2000, an average of about 4344 people lost their lives and about 30 million people were affected by disasters every year. The loss in terms of private, community and public assets has been astronomical.

 The super cyclone in Orissa in October, 1999 and the Bhuj earthquake in Gujarat in January, 2001 underscored the need to adopt a multi dimensional endeavour involving diverse scientific, engineering, financial and social processes; the need to adopt multi disciplinary and multi sectoral approach and incorporation of risk reduction in the developmental plans and strategies.

 United Nations General Assembly, in 1989, declared the decade 1990-2000 as the International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction with the objective to reduce loss of lives and property and restrict socio-economic damage through concerted international action, specially in developing countries.

Types of Disasters
Earthquakes Cyclones & Tornadoes Floods & Tidal Waves Landslides & Volcanic Eruptions Hurricanes Snow storms Severe Air Pollution (Smog) Famines Epidemics

Types of Disasters
Building Collapse Toxicological Accidents Nuclear Accidents Warfare (Warfare is a special category as damage is the Intended Goal of Action)

Earthquakes have highest mortality as a result of people being crushed by falling objects & at night they are deadly

Factors affecting Injuries & death

Type of disaster Density & distribution of the population Condition of the Environment Degree of the preparedness Oppurtunities of Warning

Injuries >>> Death

Explosions Eartquakes Typhoons & Hurricanes Fires

Death >>> Injuries

Landslides Avalanches Volcanic Eruptions Tidal waves Floods

Morbidity of Disaster
On the whole, morbidity which results from a disaster situation can be classified into four types: 1. Injuries 2. Emotional Stress 3. Epidemic of the Disease 4. Increase in the Indigenous Diseases.

Disaster Management
There are three Fundamental aspects: 1.Disaster Response 2. Disaster Preparedness 3. Disaster Mitigation

Disaster Impact & Response

Search Rescue & First-aid- most immediate help comes from uninjured survivors. Field care- Proper care , beds, surgical services, food , shelter , inquiry Centre establishment, Victims identification & provision of adequate mortuary space. Triage Tagging regarding name age address, diagnosis & treatment Identification of dead & shifting to mortuary & reception of bereaved relatives.

Triage
Triage consists of rapidly classifying the injured on the basis of the severity of their injuries & the likelihood of their survival with prompt medical intervention. Highest priority is granted to victims whose immediate or long term prognosis can be dramatically affected by simple intensive care. Moribund patients who require a great deal of attention , with questionable benefit have the lowest priority.

Red indicates highest priority of t/t. Yellow signals medium priority Green indicates ambulatory patients Black for Dead or Moribund patients

Relief Phase
This phase begins when assistance from outside starts to reach the disaster area. The needed supplies will include food , blankets , clothings , shelter , sanitary engineering Equipment & construction material. Four principal components in managing humanitarian supplies: a) Acquisition of supplies b)Transportation c)Storage D) Distribution

Epidemiological surveillance & Disease Control

Disasters can increase the transmission of Communicable diseases by Overcrowding & poor sanitation Population displacement Contaminated water supply Disruption of routine control programmes Breeding of vectors Displacement of domestic & wild animals who carry zoonoses e.g. Leptospirosis in Orissa cyclone

After Disaster
There may be Gastroenteritis outbreak Acute respiratory infections Vector Borne diseases Zoonoses

Epidemiological surveillance & Disease Control.

Implement all public health measure as soon as possible Organize a reliable disease reporting system to identify outbreaks and to promptly initiate disease control measures Investigate rapidly

Rehabilitation
It starts from very first moment of disaster. Water supply increase residual chlorine level to about 0.2-0.5mg per litre. Keep safe the water resources by fencing & restricting access of animals. Prevent every possible means of contamination

 Food safety personal hygiene & kitchen sanitation must be ensured. Basic Sanitation & personal Hygiene Safe excreta disposal should be ensured. Vector Control must be Intensified.

Disaster Preparedness
Adopting standards & regulations Organize communication, information & warning symptoms

SAARC Disaster Committee

Thanks.